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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2018/apr/09/leak-challenges-amber-rudds-claim-that-police-cuts-are-not-to-blame-for-london-violence-live-updates
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| Amber Rudd denies seeing leaked violent crime report - live updates | Amber Rudd denies seeing leaked violent crime report - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| While we wait for Corbyn and Khan to launch Labour’s local election campaign, Pippa Crerar sets the scene: | |
| The Labour leader will put soaring violent crime at the heart of his party’s bid to take over at least four fiercely guarded Tory local authorities, branding the Tories’ record on policing and crime as a “reckless failure”. | |
| At an event in Westminster – one of Labour’s target councils – Corbyn will also criticise Theresa May’s housing policy, saying that the Grenfell disaster showed that London “may be united, but we are deeply unequal”. | |
| Khan, meanwhile, will hope to appeal to remain voters by telling them the local elections on 3 May will be their last chance to give their verdict on the “extreme, hard Brexit” the government is pursuing. | |
| Outside London, the elections are as likely to be about bins as Brexit. But it is inevitable that much of the focus will fall on the capital, where all the seats in 32 boroughs – 20 of which are currently held by Labour – are up for grabs. | |
| The red surge in the capital has been evident for some years. Labour now needs little over 150 net gains to match its best ever result in the capital: 1,221 seats in 1971. The Tories, who have no councillors in five London boroughs, are within 100 losses of their worst showing. | |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Rudd to accept her department’s own research suggesting cuts to policing are a factor in the rise of violent crime. | |
| Met Home Sec @AmberRuddHR this morning to discuss knife crime - which is rising in 39/43 police forces in England & Wales. Some positive ideas on tackling violence, but there needs to be an acceptance that cuts to policing & youth services are a factor. https://t.co/M7HNGbdb6w | |
| Nick Timothy, the former joint Downing Street chief of staff and special adviser to Theresa May at the home office, has come to Rudd’s defence on the leaked home office document on the drivers of serious crime. | Nick Timothy, the former joint Downing Street chief of staff and special adviser to Theresa May at the home office, has come to Rudd’s defence on the leaked home office document on the drivers of serious crime. |
| He reckons the claims about cuts in police contributing to a rise in violent crime are likely to be an official assertion rather the research and suggests the Guardian’s story has been “overbaked”. | He reckons the claims about cuts in police contributing to a rise in violent crime are likely to be an official assertion rather the research and suggests the Guardian’s story has been “overbaked”. |
| I’m happy to be corrected but having seen thousands of Home Office documents over the years this doesn’t read like “research” or “data” to me. More like an official’s assertion midway through a high level powerpoint document on all factors associated with crime. Overbaked story. | I’m happy to be corrected but having seen thousands of Home Office documents over the years this doesn’t read like “research” or “data” to me. More like an official’s assertion midway through a high level powerpoint document on all factors associated with crime. Overbaked story. |
| In response to Timothy’s tweet, reader Ray Richardson emails to point out the front of the leaked document says: “Home office analysis and insight informing decisions through evidence”. | |
| Influential Tory backbenchers are urging the government to launch some form of attack against Syria without a parliamentary vote following the chemical attack on Douma. | Influential Tory backbenchers are urging the government to launch some form of attack against Syria without a parliamentary vote following the chemical attack on Douma. |
| Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, tweeted: “standing by as kids are gassed isn’t pacifism, it’s tolerating evil”. | Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, tweeted: “standing by as kids are gassed isn’t pacifism, it’s tolerating evil”. |
| This is why @UN agreed the 2005 Responsibility to Protect. This is why @ICRC Geneva Conventions added the 1925 Gas Protocol. This is why @JoCox @Alison_McGovern and I argued there are legitimate uses of force. Standing by as kids are gassed isn’t pacifism, it’s tolerating evil. https://t.co/B4Hysd7NA8 | This is why @UN agreed the 2005 Responsibility to Protect. This is why @ICRC Geneva Conventions added the 1925 Gas Protocol. This is why @JoCox @Alison_McGovern and I argued there are legitimate uses of force. Standing by as kids are gassed isn’t pacifism, it’s tolerating evil. https://t.co/B4Hysd7NA8 |
| And writing in the Telegraph Johnny Mercer, who like Tugenhat is a former army officer, said: | And writing in the Telegraph Johnny Mercer, who like Tugenhat is a former army officer, said: |
| We have reached such a fetid low post-Iraq that there is now an expectation that any foreign action will go through a vote in parliament. This is a uniquely useless way of conducting foreign policy, and in almost one action emasculates us on the world stage... | We have reached such a fetid low post-Iraq that there is now an expectation that any foreign action will go through a vote in parliament. This is a uniquely useless way of conducting foreign policy, and in almost one action emasculates us on the world stage... |
| Every individual inside Syria involved in the chemical weapons decision-making cycle should be targeted (not always with violence). The bases they launch from should be levelled. Assad (who should have been dead long ago) doesn’t read our newspapers; so statements decrying him are largely irrelevant. If warfare is changing, then we damn well change with it. | Every individual inside Syria involved in the chemical weapons decision-making cycle should be targeted (not always with violence). The bases they launch from should be levelled. Assad (who should have been dead long ago) doesn’t read our newspapers; so statements decrying him are largely irrelevant. If warfare is changing, then we damn well change with it. |
| While Rudd appeared to blame the London mayor and police and crime commissioners for the cuts in police numbers, they are blaming the government. | While Rudd appeared to blame the London mayor and police and crime commissioners for the cuts in police numbers, they are blaming the government. |
| In a week when 9 people died of knife crime in London, Amber Rudd announces a new law. You can't prosecute your way out of this. Try properly funding neighbourhood police, youth services, probation bring back EMAs, tackle poverty & unemployment,stop slashing in-work benefits | In a week when 9 people died of knife crime in London, Amber Rudd announces a new law. You can't prosecute your way out of this. Try properly funding neighbourhood police, youth services, probation bring back EMAs, tackle poverty & unemployment,stop slashing in-work benefits |
| As Mayor, I refuse to accept that nothing can be done to stem the appalling tide of violence we are seeing on our streets, and alongside @MetPoliceUK, City Hall will continue to work ceaselessly to stop it. pic.twitter.com/lZeKvK9Va2 | As Mayor, I refuse to accept that nothing can be done to stem the appalling tide of violence we are seeing on our streets, and alongside @MetPoliceUK, City Hall will continue to work ceaselessly to stop it. pic.twitter.com/lZeKvK9Va2 |
| Rudd refused to be drawn on whether the government would launch an attack without a parliamentary vote. | Rudd refused to be drawn on whether the government would launch an attack without a parliamentary vote. |
| Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in February that Britain should consider joining military action against Assad’s regime if there is fresh “incontrovertible” evidence he has used chemical weapons against his own people. | Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in February that Britain should consider joining military action against Assad’s regime if there is fresh “incontrovertible” evidence he has used chemical weapons against his own people. |
| Asked if the government was considering limited military action, Rudd told Today: “The foreign secretary is right in his comments. The UN Security Council is of course meeting today. | Asked if the government was considering limited military action, Rudd told Today: “The foreign secretary is right in his comments. The UN Security Council is of course meeting today. |
| “What we have seen is another horrific piece of activity in Syria, hurting children and families, and we need to make sure we have a strong international response.” | “What we have seen is another horrific piece of activity in Syria, hurting children and families, and we need to make sure we have a strong international response.” |
| Israeli war planes have bombed a Syrian regime airbase east of the city of Homs, two days after a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town outside Damascus drew international outrage. | Israeli war planes have bombed a Syrian regime airbase east of the city of Homs, two days after a chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town outside Damascus drew international outrage. |
| Labour’s Yvette Cooper, chair of the home affairs select committee, says it is “shocking” for Rudd to claim she has not see leaked research from her own department on the drivers of serious crime. | Labour’s Yvette Cooper, chair of the home affairs select committee, says it is “shocking” for Rudd to claim she has not see leaked research from her own department on the drivers of serious crime. |
| This is shocking. Surely Home Office officials sent the document to Home Sec, to junior ministers and to special advisors? Cant imagine a department withholding from decision makers the evidence & analysis it did for a new strategy. Something has gone very wrong in Home Office https://t.co/E481KFN5lj | This is shocking. Surely Home Office officials sent the document to Home Sec, to junior ministers and to special advisors? Cant imagine a department withholding from decision makers the evidence & analysis it did for a new strategy. Something has gone very wrong in Home Office https://t.co/E481KFN5lj |
| For those of us, including Amber Rudd, who haven’t seen the leaked home office research on the likely between rising violent crime and police cuts here’s a sample from the document. | For those of us, including Amber Rudd, who haven’t seen the leaked home office research on the likely between rising violent crime and police cuts here’s a sample from the document. |
| Asked if she acknowledged that police cuts have contributed to a rise in violent crime, Rudd said: “No. This is me acknowledging that new pressures which we’ve put onto the the police, which they have responded to - dealing with the new types of crime that we are increasingly seeing - because of these pressures they need additional resources and they are getting them.” | Asked if she acknowledged that police cuts have contributed to a rise in violent crime, Rudd said: “No. This is me acknowledging that new pressures which we’ve put onto the the police, which they have responded to - dealing with the new types of crime that we are increasingly seeing - because of these pressures they need additional resources and they are getting them.” |
| She added: “I think it is a mistake, and we do a disservice to the communities and the families who have seen these tragedies by just pointing to police numbers. This is a complex area, it is not all about police numbers. | She added: “I think it is a mistake, and we do a disservice to the communities and the families who have seen these tragedies by just pointing to police numbers. This is a complex area, it is not all about police numbers. |
| Asked about the leaked research, Rudd said: | Asked about the leaked research, Rudd said: |
| “I haven’t seen this document. There are a lot of documents that go round the home office. We do a lot of work in this area.” | “I haven’t seen this document. There are a lot of documents that go round the home office. We do a lot of work in this area.” |
| “You cannot arrest your way out of this, what we need is what we are proposing in the serious violent crime strategy which is about early intervention.” | “You cannot arrest your way out of this, what we need is what we are proposing in the serious violent crime strategy which is about early intervention.” |
| “One of the things that we have learnt from this report is that forces with the biggest falls in numbers have not seen the biggest rise in crime.” | “One of the things that we have learnt from this report is that forces with the biggest falls in numbers have not seen the biggest rise in crime.” |
| Rudd went on to blame police and crime commissioners for the cuts in police numbers. She said: | Rudd went on to blame police and crime commissioners for the cuts in police numbers. She said: |
| “We need to make sure that community policing and neighbourhood policing is absolutely at the centre of what police forces do. I haven’t cut it. It is up to different police and crime commissioners to make their decisions about how the money is spent.” | “We need to make sure that community policing and neighbourhood policing is absolutely at the centre of what police forces do. I haven’t cut it. It is up to different police and crime commissioners to make their decisions about how the money is spent.” |
| “Some forces are increasing their numbers of PCSOs (police community support officers), some are cutting them in order to have more funds available for local policing of a different type. | “Some forces are increasing their numbers of PCSOs (police community support officers), some are cutting them in order to have more funds available for local policing of a different type. |
| “This is the type of policing we have now. It’s up to the Met Commissioner in London and the Police and Crime Commissioner Sadiq Khan to decide how that money is spent. They will have their views about how best to support their local communities.” | “This is the type of policing we have now. It’s up to the Met Commissioner in London and the Police and Crime Commissioner Sadiq Khan to decide how that money is spent. They will have their views about how best to support their local communities.” |
| On stop and search, Rudd says the strategy has been successful but that it has to be more intelligence-led. Since the introduction of body-worn cameras complaints against police have gone down by up to 70%, Rudd says. | On stop and search, Rudd says the strategy has been successful but that it has to be more intelligence-led. Since the introduction of body-worn cameras complaints against police have gone down by up to 70%, Rudd says. |
| Amber Rudd acknowledges that police are facing “new pressures”. But she says it is “mistake” to focus on police numbers as the problem is a complex one. | Amber Rudd acknowledges that police are facing “new pressures”. But she says it is “mistake” to focus on police numbers as the problem is a complex one. |
| Speaking to the Today programme she insists she has not seen the home office research which found that reducing police numbers contributed to the problem. | Speaking to the Today programme she insists she has not seen the home office research which found that reducing police numbers contributed to the problem. |
| She says she is interested in addressing the underlying causes of the violence. Parrying stats on police numbers won’t help families hit by violence, Rudd insists. | She says she is interested in addressing the underlying causes of the violence. Parrying stats on police numbers won’t help families hit by violence, Rudd insists. |
| Shadow policing minister Louise Haigh said Rudd has “serious questions” to answer over the leak about the possible causes of violent crime. | Shadow policing minister Louise Haigh said Rudd has “serious questions” to answer over the leak about the possible causes of violent crime. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Haigh said: “She [Rudd] had in front of her home office research that suggested that resources dedicated to serious violence have come under pressure and that it is therefore likely to be a factor in the rise in violent crime.” | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Haigh said: “She [Rudd] had in front of her home office research that suggested that resources dedicated to serious violence have come under pressure and that it is therefore likely to be a factor in the rise in violent crime.” |
| She added: “Either she saw that research and chose to say the exact opposite, or she commissioned that research and didn’t see it. Either she’s incompetent, or she chose to mislead the public.” | She added: “Either she saw that research and chose to say the exact opposite, or she commissioned that research and didn’t see it. Either she’s incompetent, or she chose to mislead the public.” |
| Haigh pointed out that the Labour is not claiming that police cuts are the main driver in rising violent crime, but she added: “You cannot take over 21,000 police officer off the street without firstly reducing the police’s ability to respond to crime, or without destroying the ability to police communities and to build the trust in police and allow the police to police by consent.” | Haigh pointed out that the Labour is not claiming that police cuts are the main driver in rising violent crime, but she added: “You cannot take over 21,000 police officer off the street without firstly reducing the police’s ability to respond to crime, or without destroying the ability to police communities and to build the trust in police and allow the police to police by consent.” |
| Welcome to Politics Live. Although the parliamentary Easter break continues it promises to be a lively day on the political front. | Welcome to Politics Live. Although the parliamentary Easter break continues it promises to be a lively day on the political front. |
| Amber Rudd is due to launch a new strategy on violent crime after a spate of shootings and stabbings in London. Her claim in the Sunday Telegraph that the spike in violence was not linked to police cuts was questioned by an embarrassing leak from her own department. It said cuts are likely to have contributed to a rise in serious crime. | Amber Rudd is due to launch a new strategy on violent crime after a spate of shootings and stabbings in London. Her claim in the Sunday Telegraph that the spike in violence was not linked to police cuts was questioned by an embarrassing leak from her own department. It said cuts are likely to have contributed to a rise in serious crime. |
| Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan are sure to highlight the problem of violent crime in the capital when they launch Labour’s local election campaign. But the Labour leader is still facing protests about antisemitism in the party. | Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan are sure to highlight the problem of violent crime in the capital when they launch Labour’s local election campaign. But the Labour leader is still facing protests about antisemitism in the party. |
| Meanwhile, Theresa May is on a one-day tour of Scandinavia. She will discuss bilateral cooperation on issues such as security and defence with the Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, as well as Brexit and trade. | Meanwhile, Theresa May is on a one-day tour of Scandinavia. She will discuss bilateral cooperation on issues such as security and defence with the Danish prime minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, as well as Brexit and trade. |
| May is due to give a press conference in Denmark at lunchtime. | May is due to give a press conference in Denmark at lunchtime. |